| Travelling in turns usually is a problem of | | | | address the above issues, until you can do |
| strength holding the postural plumb line. If | | | | rises and releves with correct posture and |
| the position and movement is not correct, the | | | | placement. Learn some Pilates core work, and |
| turns will travel and flounder. | | | | stretch and relax all your muscles, before, |
| | | | during and after class. |
| Here are 7 highly effective tips to examine | | | | |
| your technique for fouettes and turns a la | | | | ** To check your spotting, do an easy echappe |
| seconde: | | | | from fifth to second, turning as far as you |
| | | | can toward a quarter turn, leaving your head |
| ** Standing sideways to a mirror, do a few | | | | to the front. I don't specifiy exactly how |
| press ups in first position. Do you have a | | | | far you should turn, because this depends on |
| postural plumb line? If your core, your | | | | the extent your head will turn without |
| turnout, your ankles and soles of the foot | | | | inclining. Continue to echappe turning, and |
| are steady, also check to see that these | | | | close, leaving the head behind, until you |
| movements are done with no strain in the | | | | face front, then repeat on the other side. |
| shoulders and neck. | | | | This is just to feel the looseness of your |
| | | | neck muscles in leaving your head behind. |
| ** With fingertips on the barre, do slow | | | | |
| motion press ups and down in retire, or a la | | | | ** Repeat this exercise in retire or a la |
| seconde. If you can do this without strain in | | | | seconde. Use a partner, to hold the hand of |
| the neck and shoulders, great. If there is | | | | your supporting side as you turn away from |
| strain, you need to build up strength in your | | | | the front. Again, this is to check the neck |
| core, and possibly overall. If a postural | | | | (and shoulders) relaxation as you releve, and |
| deviation from your plumb line shows up here, | | | | to check your postural plumb line in the |
| check for technical accuracy. | | | | position of your turn, and your demi plie. |
| | | | (We haven't dealt with fouette yet). |
| ** What specific technical accuracy? The | | | | |
| basics, always. Is your turnout strong, or | | | | ** For fouettes, use a partner in the center, |
| have you compensated by shoving your | | | | to do your demi plie with the leg extended |
| supporting heel forward when you plie, | | | | devant, and then do a slow motion press up |
| changing your center of balance? Are you | | | | with the ronde de jambe and into retire, |
| dropping back in the bottom of the demi plie? | | | | turning a little. This is to again check the |
| A shorter demi plie is not a bad thing. What | | | | postural plumb line, correct demi plie, and |
| counts is being in good posture in your demi | | | | ease of the neck in leaving the head behind. |
| plie so that you can press with your heel | | | | |
| foot, into the floor, and use gravity to push | | | | This whole process may take place over a |
| up, without having to make another | | | | whole year. You will be doing your |
| compensation to rise into a straight | | | | pirouettes, fouettes and turns a la seconde |
| position. It's a lot more work to keep all | | | | all the time. But as you gain strength, and |
| these compensations/countercompensations | | | | learn to see and feel those tiny |
| going. | | | | compensations you have been doing, you will |
| | | | build excellent work habits for these |
| I want to make a comment here about Classical | | | | spectacular feats. |
| Stretch, the Full Body Workout and Athletes' | | | | |
| Intense Stretch. On a day off dance classes, | | | | Ballet is much harder to do wrong. If your |
| this is a wonderful routine. It is not too | | | | early training wasn't the best, you can |
| hard on the legs and back, which need to | | | | back-peddle like this to correct technique in |
| rest, it combines Pilates with balletic style | | | | your advanced levels. |
| for your core strength, and it fulfills the | | | | |
| need for stretch and relaxation that most | | | | For any overworked muscles use an ice pack at |
| dancers neglect. Good muscle tone is not just | | | | least twice a day. A homeopathic cream called |
| work, work, and more work. | | | | Traumeel is wonderful for soft tissue repair. |
| | | | Apply after icing. |
| ** Spend several weeks if necessary, to | | | | |